Tires - Alignment

I have a 2006 CR-V SE purchased new in the fall of 2005. At 24000 miles the tires needed to be replaced. Now new high end Michelin tires on the rear are cupped after having been on the vehicle for just 17000 miles. Despite the Honda dealer insisting that the tires were wearing poorply because of improper inflation, I insisted that the alignment be checked and in fact the vehicle was out of alignment. Curiously, although I have had all regular service at the dealer, the alignment has never been checked nor is it a scheduled maintenance item in the owners manual.

I have owned many Honda's and overall have been satisfied. I find it disturbing that at 41000 miles I am required to purchase yet another set of tires for this product.

Curiously, in speaking with the dealer several disturbing comments were made. One reason for not doing more to satisfy my concern was that the car was not purchased from them. They are an authorized Honda dealer. Poor showing indeed. The other was that it will probably go back out of alignment easily. This said without explanation.

My impression in speaking with a tire retailer is that other Honda customers are having similar problems with this vehicle.

There isn't a set interval that you should do an alignment but I think most tire stores will try and tell you to do it every 6 months just to make sales. I do it every spring after pothole season ends. I got a lifetime alignment at Firestone for $125. And yes it can easily get out of alignment quickly just hit one good sized pothole. As far as tire wear is concerned cupping is a sign of low tire pressure and not an alignment issue. The big sign of an alignment issue is if the tires are wearing unevenly on the sides. You can easily see if the outside, or inside, edge of the tire is worn more than the rest of the tire. I have my tires rotated every time I get an oil change, every 7000 miles (about every 6 months). This not only helps extend the life of the tires but the tech gets to inspect the tires for wear and can let me know of any problems. Again I go to Firestone as I get an oil change, tire rotation and balance all for $30. I also do regular visible inspections of the tires when I fuel up, its pretty easy just to walk around the vehicle and look at the tires with the CR-V you can pretty much see all the tire without bending over.

If you are regularly taking your vehicle to the dealer for oil changes and all scheduled services, about every 3 months by the owners manual, then they should be looking for uneven tire wear. My dealer does a free inspection, including tires, with an oil change. If you bring it somewhere else then it is up to you to inspect your tires.

Thanks for your thoughts.

However, cupping is not caused by low tire pressure which typically results in shoulder wear. Cupping is caused by multiple problems such as balance (these tires were in balance when checked), struts/shocks and if rear tires only (as was my case) alignment.

My question is are others having issues with these vehicles resulting in poor tire durability?

Sorry I was actually thinking of something else and not the scooped out type of cuping you are talking about. Which indicates bad struts among other things. The only tire issue I am aware of is the OEM Bridestone Duelers wear out very fast. I replaced mine at 35,000 miles and that seems to be about the norm. That is a tire issue and not a vehcile issue. Are all the tires affected or just the one? Could you have gotten a defective tire?